Ella

Why I’m Choosing 20 Hours of Silence

On September 6th, I’ll be stepping into a 2x2m square at 4am—and staying there, in complete silence, until midnight.

No phone. No talking. No distractions. Just stillness.

I’m doing this as part of 20 Hours for 20Talk, to raise money and awareness for youth mental health. But for me, it’s much more than a fundraising challenge—it’s something deeply personal.

A Quiet Space for Something Loud

Some of you may remember, there was a time in my life when silence wasn’t peaceful—it was terrifying.

My younger years were marked by a lot of internal chaos. I went through things I couldn’t process at the time, and it all spiralled into some dark places.

When you don’t have the tools or the support to cope with pain, it comes out however it can—sometimes in ways that only add to the hurt.

Those years taught me what it feels like to be completely overwhelmed by your own mind.

To feel stuck. Disconnected. Lost.

This challenge is a kind of mirror to that experience. Sitting with your thoughts for 20 hours—with no escape—isn’t just hard, it’s vulnerable. But it also offers something powerful: the chance to face yourself with honesty, gentleness, and compassion.

Why 20Talk Matters

20Talk creates spaces for young people to talk openly about their mental health, to access support, and to feel seen. These kinds of conversations and communities change lives—and I believe in that from the inside out.

To take part, I need to raise $1,000, and every donation goes directly toward youth mental health education, support programs, and prevention initiatives.

And because this wasn’t challenging enough, I also have to quit vaping to participate.

So you’re not just sponsoring me to sit in silence—you’re backing me as I let go of an old coping mechanism, and commit to growth in every sense.

Your Support Means the World

If you’ve ever felt lost, overwhelmed, or like your mind was louder than anything outside of you—you’ll understand why this challenge means so much.

And if you’re able to donate, share, or even just send kind thoughts—I’ll carry that with me during the quiet hours.

Let’s turn silence into connection, into healing, into hope.

Thank you for being part of this.

Love you, 

Eleanor 

Sitting with my thoughts

In order to raise funds for mental health charity 20Talk, I'm going to take on the challenge of sitting in a 2 metre square box for 20 hours with no technology and no talking. This challenge will be a small look into the day of someone struggling with mental health. All I will have is my own thoughts, a journal and a chair to sit on.

So why am I doing this?

We have all been touched in some way or another by the reality of mental health. It can be dark, lonely, and confronting. 

Structurally, the statistics are still alarming..

• Suicide still remains the leading cause of death for young people aged 15-44. 
• Only 2% of mental health funding goes towards prevention (Mental Health Commission 2022)

I'm completing the 20 Hours for 20Talk to turn these statistics around. Your contribution goes towards 20Talk's relatable prevention campaigns. They are a mental health charity that makes education cool and accessible, for young people by young people.

Your generous donations go towards:

• Every $300 puts a young person through a two-day Mental Health First Aid course
• Expanding 20Talk's online resources and 60,000+ social media community
• Running large-scale interactive mental health events

By improving mental health literacy, removing harmful stigma, and encouraging professional help-seeking we are preventing people from getting people into crisis in the first place.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and for donating to the cause. Hopefully this small challenge can help change someone’s life. 

If you ever need to chat, I’m always here. Love you all and thanks again!